Washing-machine mechanism



C. B. GREESON.

WASHING MACHINE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR-17.1919.

' 1,334,608. Patented Mar.23,1920.

/ VII/III,

WI TNESS:

m flnw I 8 By ,2 j; IATTORNEY.

INVENTOR. iartt 3 dream);

CLARETT 13. GREEEEON, 0F CEDAB FALLS IOWA.

WASHINGJVIAGHINE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

Application filed April 17, 1919. Serial No. 290,663.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Cinema? B. Gunmen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Falls, in the county of Blackhawk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing- Machine Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to washing machine mechanism and more particularly to a device for transmitting motion from the drive shaft to the plunger shaft so that the rotary movement of the drive shaft will be converted to p a combined reciprocatory and oscillatory movement in the plunger shaft.

.ln washing machines employing the reciprocatory plrmger, it has been found that the articles in the washing machine are more effectively washed and cleansed ifthe plunger is oscillated during its vertical reciprocatory movement so that the plunger in ad dition to its vertical movement on the articles in the machine will also rub the articles it oscillates and therefore, ause the arti clcs to constantly change their relative positions within the washing machine so that the articles are washed more thoroughly and quickly.

The invention, therefore, contemplates the provision of a loose link connection between the rotary drive shaft and the plunger shaft so that the phmger shaft will be vertically reciprocated and at the same time oscillated through a quarter turn at regular intervals in opposite directions.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the preferred embodiment and in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the washing apparatus having my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a. section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the device.

Referring to the drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred. form. of my invention, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the f *arne 1 supports the retary drive shaft 2 which will h ave the power applied in any preferred manner so that the shaft 2 will be constantly rotated while the machine is in operation. Bearings 3 are provided to receive the shaft 2 andone end of the shaft is provided with a. crank arm 4%, the end of which is equipped with a. sleeve portion 5. This crank rotates with the shaft when the latter is in. motion.

The plunger shaft is disposed at right angles with respect to the drive shaft l and is mounted in the frame 1 as shown and may be rigidly connected as it unnecessary that this shaft move. Slidaloly mounted upon the plunger shaft 6 is a sleeve 7, the lower end of which is attached to the plunger 8 which may be of any preferred construction and is adapted to engage the articles to be washed. Inasmuch as the sleeve 7 is slidably and rotatably mounted on the shaft 6 it will be obvious that any rotary or reciprocatory movement imparted to the sleeve will be also imparted to the plunger 8.

A collar 9 fitted over the sleeve 7 and is provided with a renmvable set screw 10 which is adapted to on gage the same for rigidly holding the collar 9 in position on the sleeve. Integra-lly formed with the collar and projecting therefrom is a wing 11 which is in the form of a substantially quarter circular plate, the straight edges 12 and 13 of which are at right angles to each other, while the curved edge 14: extends through an arc struck from a point near the corner 15 of the plate adjacent the juncture of the edges 12 and 13. The opposite faces of the plate therefore, present relatively great areas and are finished smooth as shown.

Extending transversely through the plate near the corner 15 thereof, precisely at the point from which the are of the edge 14: is struck, is a pivot pin 16, the ends of which are extended at opposite sides of the plate to receive the link 17 between which the plate 11 is fitted so that the surfaces of the plate engage the approximate surfaces of the link when relative movement is imparted. The outer ends of the link carry a pivot pin 18 and a stud 19 is provided to connect the ends of the link with the crank 45. The stud comprises the shank 2O fitted in the sleeve portion 5 of the crank arm and the head 21 which is received between the outer ends of the links and the retaining pin 22, Or other suitable fastening element such as a cotter pin, is extended through the end of the stud 20 as shown to prevent its withdrawal. In this manner a connection is cstablished between the rotary shaft 2 and the sleeve 7 on the plunger shaft 6.

In operation, a rotary motion will be imparted to the drive shaft 2 which will be also transmitted to the crank arm a and assuming that the parts are in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1 it will be obvious that when the crank arm turns the sleeve 7 will be longitudinally moved in one direction by virtue of the pivotally connected links and plate carried by the stud 19 and the collar 9 respectively. A quarter turn will be given to the sleeve 7 during this; longitudinal movementand when the shaft has rotated through a half turn the rotary movement of the sleeve will be reversed while the reciprocating movement of the sleeve still continues. It will be seen therefore, that there is a continuous reciprocatory and oscillatory movement imparted to sleeve 7 which carries the plunger 8. I

The relatively large area of the plate 11 above referred to, causes a portion of the plate to be disposed at all times in the space between the two links 17 so that the strain occasioned by the changing position and different movement of the parts will be greatly reduced and consequently the binding action which would otherwise occur is avoided. The movement is free and regular and will readily actuate the sleeve 7 in spite of any vacuum created in the plunger 8 which, of course, is common in machines of this char acter. The consequence is that the clothes are quickly and thoroughly washed.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings have reference to what might be considered to be the approved or preferred form of my invention. I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes .in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended. claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

'1. The combination with a rotary shaft, a plunger shaft disposed at right angles thereto and spaced from the end thereof, and equipped with a slidably rotatably mounted member, and means connecting the said rotary shaft and the said slidable rotary member to reciprocate the latter on the said shaft, and impart oscillatory movement thereto during rotary movement of the said rotary shaft.

2. A drive shaft, a slidably mounted member adapted for longitudinal and rotary movement disposed beyond one end of the said rotary shaft and at right angles thereto, a crank arm fixed to the adjacent end of the rotary shaft, parallel links disposed in spaced relation and provided with pivot elements at their ends, means for connecting one of the crank arms with two ends of the said links and means mounted on the sleeve and connected to the opposite ends of the links to convert the movement transmitted from the said crank to the links into a reciprocatory and oscillatory movement for transmission to the said slidably mounted ,member.

3. A rotary shaft, a plunger shaft disposed at right angles thereto and equipped with a sliding sleeve carrying a plunger at one end, a collar fixed to the opposite end of the sleeve and provided with a laterally extending plate of relatively great area, parallel links pivot-ally connected to the plate and disposed in spaced relation to receive the said plate between the links, a crank arm fixed to one end of the shaft and rotatable therewith, and a stud connecting the outer ends of the links with the said crank arm.

at. A rotary shaft, :1 fixed shaft provided with a slidably rotatably mounted sleeve, a collar fixed to the sleeve and provided with a substantially quarter circular plate, a pair of parallel links having the said plate received therebetwcen and pivotally connected to the said plate, a crank arm fixed to the said rotary shaft, the said links being extended beyond the said. plate, and a stud member carried by the said crank arm and pivotally connected to the extended ends of the said links.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARETT B. GREESON.

\Vitnesses A. W. BUNDY. 

